Need to know:
Single PVCs, no greater than couplets (rest/exercise), no structural heart disease
"Athletes with single PVCs and complex forms no greater than couplets at rest and during exercise testing without structural heart disease can participate in all competitive sports.
The exercise testing protocol should be based on maximal performance rather than achieving 80% to 100% of the target heart rate to come as close as possible to the level of exertion achieved during their competitive sport."
(Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)
PVCs increase in frequency w/ exercise
"Athletes with PVCs at rest that increase in frequency during exercise or exercise testing and convert to repetitive forms should have further evaluation by appropriate imaging or monitoring strategies before clearance for participation in high-intensity sports.
If uncontrollable exercise-induced arrhythmias produce symptoms of lightheadedness or near-syncope, fatigue, or dyspnea, the athlete should be limited to competitive sports below the level at which marked frequency increase or symptoms evolved during testing."
(Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)
Structural heart disease and high risk
"Athletes with defined structural heart disease who are considered high risk based on the specific heart disease and who have PVCs with or without treatment should be limited to low-intensity class IA competitive sports. This statement applies whether or not PVCs in this setting are suppressed by drug therapy. Some degree of risk can still be present during class IA sports, however, depending on the nature of the heart disease."
(Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)
Symptomatic, frequent PVCs resistant to medical therapy
"Ablation of PVCs may be considered in symptomatic patients with frequent PVCs resistant to medical therapy."
(Class IIb Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)
Reference: Eligibility and Disqualification Recommendations for Competitive Athletes With Cardiovascular Abnormalities: Task Force 9.
A Scientific Statement From the AHA and ACC. Circulation 2015
Disclaimer: This website is derived from published guidelines, but does not constitute medical advice nor does it replace clinical judgement. Only the text in quotation marks are direct quotations from the original guidelines. Text not in quotations as well as the method of information display are all that of the website creator and are not part of the original published guidelines. Please consult a physician to discuss any patient-specific matters.
Key: PVC = premature ventricular contractions